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PAN-AMERICAN SEIWA KAI

NEWSLETTER

全米誠和会

社内報

Dedicated to Traditional Goju Ryu Karatedo ISSUE 12: May / June 2015

Current and previous issues of the USA Seiwa Kai Newsletter can be found

online at http://www.greatlakesseiwakai.com/usa-seiwa-kai-newsletters.html

Send submissions to the USA Seiwa Kai Newsletter to

greatlakesseiwakai@gmail.com

Seiwa Kai Founder: Shuji Tasaki, Hanshi

Seiwa Kai President: Seiichi Fujiwara, Hanshi Vassie Naidoo: Seiwa Kai Director Appointed by Shuji Tasaki, Hanshi

Seiwa Kai Canada: USA Seiwa Kai Officers: Vassie Naidoo: President Isao Yabunaka: President

Des Tuck: Vice President Peter Brown: Seiwa Kai Alberta

Jim Pounds: Secretary

Brian Burdick: Treasurer

Seiwa Kai Mexico

Marcos Madrid: President Goshukan Seiwa Kai Canada

Vassie Naidoo: Liaison and Craig Vokey: President

Official Representative for Latin America Vassie Naidoo: Liaison

Appointed by Shuji Tasaki, Hanshi

Seiwa Kai Columbia Vassie Naidoo: Liaison

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Table of Contents

1. Japanese Woodblock Print – Hasui Kawase: Shrine at Lake Tazawa: Page 3

2. Seiwa Kai Instructors Seminar 2015: Page 4

3. Why Kata? – By Jim Pounds: Page 8

4. Great Lakes Seiwa Kai Seminar and Shinsa: page 10

5. Seiwa Kai Humor – Page 13

6. Kokutai: The period of National Essence – By Mark Cramer: Page 14

7. Karate at the 2015 Pan American Toronto Games: Page 18

8. Seiwa Kai Competes: Page 20

9. The State of Seiwa Kai England – By Leo Lipinski: Page 27

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Japanese Woodblock Print: Hasui, Kawase: Gozanoishi Shrine at Lake Tazawa (1926)

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Seiwa Kai Instructors Seminar 2015

Above: Seiwa Kai Instructors’ Seminar participants

Below: (L to R) Dan Taylor, Mark Cramer, Des Tuck, Vassie Naidoo, Jim Pounds, and Craig Vokey

The Seiwa Kai Instructors

Seminar was hosted by USA

Seiwa Kai on April 25th

through 27th, and instructors

from the US, Canada and

Mexico were in attendance.

Friday: The seminar began on

Friday evening and the

emphasis was on Kihon. The

idea was that if someone’s

kihon is not correct, then

neither their kata nor their

kumite will be correct.

Everyone appreciated this two

hour session.

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Saturday Morning: During this three hour session, Sanchin and Tensho were practiced over and

over with an emphasis on making certain that students were using proper dachi, techniques, and

ido and were not using the same type of breathing in both of these katas. (It was the distinction

between these two types of breathing that Miyagi Sensei named Goju Ryu, our style of Karatedo.

(“Ho wa goju wo tondo su – The way of inhaling and exhaling is both hardness and softness.”)

The morning session concluded with a detailed discussion of dojo and Karatedo etiquette.

Saturday Afternoon: The focus of this

three hour session was again kata.

Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa,

Seiyunchin, and Seipai were practiced

over and over with attention given to

the minute details of each kata.

Saturday Shinsa: When the afternoon

session had been completed and

everyone was exhausted, Kevin Moskie

and Robert DaLessio had their Seiwa

Kai Godan grading. After performing

Sanchin, Tensho, and Seipai, and

engaging in three kumite matches each,

Kevin and Robert became USA Seiwa

Kai’s newest Godans. Congratulations!

Kevin Moskie and Paulette Munsch Kelly Robert DaLessio and Dani ‘Donnell

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Sunday: The seminar wrapped up on Sunday with the practice of Sanseiryu and Shisochin. Once

again minute details, constant corrections, and seemingly endless repetitions were the practice du

jour.

Parting comments: Each of the instructors

offered their comments and advice to the

group. However it was one of USA Seiwa

Kai’s new Godans, Robert DaLessio, who

summed up the feelings of many of us when

he made some rather poignant comments to

the group:

“I’ve studied martial arts since the time I was

11yrs old. During this time I’ve met many

instructors from the arts of Judo, Jujutsu, and

Karate. Some of these instructors were ok. A

few were good, some better, and a small

number were even exceptional.”

“I do have to say though during my time spent

here with the Seiwa-Kai I have come to feel

very grateful for the quality of instruction

found in this organization. I would like to

speak specifically to those of you that have

not trained in other organizations, you really

have no idea what you have here with

Fujiwara, Hanshi, Vassie Naidoo, Shihan and

Des Tuck, Shihan along with the rest of our

senior instructors.”

“There are many groups out there that put little effort forward in regards to preserving the true

essence of what we do. Many groups, organizations, and instructors are driven from either ego or

lack of desire to do what is right. I can tell you first hand the heart breaking feeling when you come

to find out the things that you put blood, sweat and maybe an occasional tear towards was actually

a lie. Within our group we have some of the finest Goju-Ryu instructors I’ve ever seen. For those

who have not taken the time to consider what we have with the Seiwa-Kai, maybe we should set

some time aside to reflect. We should cherish these folks who put the time, effort, and expense

forward to continue to lead us in the right direction. We should come to understand that what they

give to us is a part of themselves. This knowledge that has been cultivated by decades and decades

of study and practice. What do we give them in return? I’ve heard students say that they pay dues,

that it’s the instructors “job to teach”. I’ve read before that actually it is not the instructor’s job to

teach but the students job to learn, I happen to agree… We might all consider that philosophy as

well. The dues that are paid are typically enough to barely keep the dojo running. Expenses of rent,

power, gas, water and insurance (just to name a few) are typically as much as the monthly income

of dues. So I ask again, what do we give our instructors in return? We can start with how we treat

them. To me our instructors should be treated as an elder from our family, not because of age but

because of the wisdom and knowledge they hold.”

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“Without diving deep into a philosophical discussion, this is a very simple but fairly accurate way

to view how we should interact with those who have come before us. We should do for them so

they will have time to show us the right ways. In taking care of our instructors it shows that we

have the correct frame of mind that we are humble, ready, and eager to learn. From there we owe

it to our instructors to practice. Karate-do, of which we practice, is an interesting concept. We

might all consider what “do” means and what the kanji stands for, and from there apply it inside

and outside of the dojo.”

Below: Vassie Shihan teaching Seipai Kata

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WHY KATA?

By: Jim Pounds

A Kata is a series of offensive and defensive movements

arranged into a set geometrical pattern (embusen). Katas are

passed from teacher to student within a particular ryu (or

style) and are, in essence, the "memory banks" of that

ryu. Within the katas are the offensive and defensive

techniques the early ryu masters thought important enough to

pass on. Kata teaches the essential "flavor" of a certain style

of martial art. Even when two styles utilize the same kata,

there are subtle (or even major) differences.

It is essential that teachers attempt to pass on katas in their pure and original forms. Essential,

because even when passed down with great diligence, katas do change over time. Why? Because

each person will adapt the kata somewhat to their own body type and sense of timing. Over several

generations, katas can undergo a metamorphosis into something quite different than was first

taught. Therefore it is imperative students and teacher strive to capture the essence of katas without

intentionally modifying them.

What benefits are derived from kata practice? Kata teaches balance and tai sabaki (body shifting)

while strengthening the body. Kata instills the techniques into "muscle memory", where they can

be instantly utilized when needed without conscious thought. In kumite and personal defense, this

is essential. Kata teaches relaxation, focus, and correct breathing.

Less experienced students often see kata and kumite as entirely different activities, whereas

experienced karate-ka see them as inseparable. Kata and kumite are similar to the yin and yang -

different parts of a single whole. If a karate system is in balance, the students who diligently train

in kata are often the best fighters. In fact, in early Okinawa, Karate Masters taught only kata and

hojo undo training (supplemental training with Makiwara, Chi Ishi, Nigiri Game, etc). Often a

certain kata was chosen for a student by his Master with that student's body type or physical

propensities in mind. And often that is the only kata a student would practice for several years. But

when personal defense was needed, the student was able to meet the challenge, because the practice

was deep.

They understood the true martial applications within the kata through Bunkai Oyo -- the actual

application of the movements passed on within the kata. With the study of Bunkai Oyo, the

practitioner was able to combine the physical grace, balance, and muscle memory developed by

kata, the physical strength and cardiovascular endurance developed by Hojo Undo, with a true

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understanding of how to apply the techniques for maximum self-defense. These three legs

supported traditional karate-do and all are still important in supporting the well-rounded

practitioner.

In our times, many ryu also include jiyu kumite to enhance a practitioner's sense of distance and

increase speed. I would agree this is a good training supplement for those benefits, and also the

added benefit of personal damage control. In other words, you have to know how to take shots

and not fold your tent. There's a certain amount of truth to the old adage: "Everybody is tough

until they get hit." Kumite allows you to understand how to keep body and mind together when

you are being pummeled. That is definitely beneficial. However, when jiyu kumite becomes the

focal point of training at the expense of the three traditional "legs" of training, a problematic

imbalance occurs. The end result is that the practitioner's karate understanding and true self-

defense and health benefits may actually decrease. The trick is to keep it all in balance. Being a

good fighter is not the only benefit to karate-do. Similarly, being a beautiful kata "performer"

without the true martial understanding of Bunkai Oyo is equally insufficient.

Over your years of karate training you may experience periods of ambivalence about kata, just as

you might with kumite. You must press on however, always seeking to understand the essence of

both. Eventually it becomes your yoga - you do it because you do it. Like breathing. Then, it is

truly yours. Sensei Teruo Chinen, of Jundokan International Goju-Ryu, once related that learning

a kata was similar to eating a piece of beef jerky - at first it is very hard and you don't have the

flavor. But if you keep chewing, eventually it is not hard at all and you will understand its

"flavor". I like that analogy. Over time, you will see that good kata is synonymous with good

karate.

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Great Lakes Seiwa Kai Seminar

Is an Official Olympic Day Event

This coming June 5, 6, and 7 Bedford Community Education Great Lakes Seiwa Kai will be

hosting a series of Goju Ryu Karatedo Seminars which are an Official Olympic Day event.

Olympic Day events commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894, and

more than 160 countries take part in the annual celebration. The mission of these events is to

promote fitness, well-being, culture, and education around the globe. Moreover, Great Lakes

Seiwa Kai is a member of the USA National Karatedo Federation which is the US Olympic

Committee’s National governing Body for sport karate.

This series of seminars is one of 700 Olympic Day Events across the country and will be taught

by Vassie Naidoo who is the President and Head Instructor of Seiwa Kai Goju Ryu Karatedo in

the USA and also the President of the Japan Karatedo Federation Goju Kai in the USA. Mr. Naidoo

travels throughout the USA and international community teaching seminars and promoting proper

kata performance. Take advantage of this opportunity to train with one of the world’s great

instructors of Goju Ryu Karatedo and learn the proper performance of Goju Ryu Kata.

Vassie Naidoo will be assisted by Mark Cramer

who is a national gold medalist in kata with the

USA National Karatedo Federation, the USA

Olympic Committee’s National Governing

Body for sport karate. Mr. Cramer tells us about

the seminars: “Great Lakes Seiwa Kai and

Bedford Community Education are excited to be

part of this Olympic Day celebration. We hope

to inspire kids and adults in Northwest Ohio and

Southeast Michigan to live healthy, active

lives.”

Left: Mr. Cramer and Mr. Naidoo after Kata

competition in Japan in 2012

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GREAT LAKES SEIWA KAI SEMINAR and SHINSA

LOCATION, SCHEDULE and FEES

Friday, June 5 (Douglas Road School Gym; 6875 Douglas Rd. Lambertville, MI 48144)

Session 1 – 6:30 to 8:30 (Black belts, brown belts, and invited students only.)

Saturday, June 6 (Douglas Road School Gym; 6875 Douglas Rd. Lambertville, MI 48144)

Session 2 – 10:00 to 12:00

Lunch Break

Session 3 – 1:30 to 3:30

Session 4 – 3:45 to 5:45

Seiwa Kai Shinsa (Dan Grade Only) This grading examination is not open to the public.

Banquette – 7:00 to ? (Location TBD)

Sunday, (Douglas Road School Gym; 6875 Douglas Rd Lambertville, MI 48144)

Session 5 – 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM. This session is required for anyone who is grading

for a kyu rank

Fees

Session 1 -- $20 Friday, June 5 – 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Session 2 -- $20 Saturday, June 6 – 10:00 AM to Noon

Session 3 -- $20 Saturday, June 6 – 1:30 to 3:30 PM

Session 4 -- $20 Saturday, June 6 – 3:45 to 5:45 PM

Session 5 -- $20 Sunday, June 7 – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

All 5 Sessions – $80

Family Maximum: 2 family members $ 100; 3 Family members $115; 4 family members

$130

Sessions Required per level of training for GLSK Students:

Peewees are encouraged to participate in Session 2.

10th Kyu to 7th Kyu: Sessions 2 and 5 (minimum) Please feel free to attend more sessions.

6th Kyu to 1st Kyu: Sessions 2, 3, and 5 (minimum) Please feel free to attend more sessions.

Shodan and up: All Sessions

No food or drinks (except water and clear sports drinks) will be allowed into the gym area.

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GREAT LAKES SEIWA KAI SEMINAR

PARTICIPATION WAVER FORM NAME___________________________________________________

PHONE__________________________________________________

ADDRESS_______________________________________________

EMAIL__________________________________________________

CITY/STATE/PROVINCE_____________________________________ZIP/POSTAL______________

COUNTRY___________________________ DATE OF BIRTH _____/_____/_____ AGE___________

DOJO____________________TEACHER_____________________ STYLE______________________

PHYSICAL OR HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS________________________________________________

PARTICIPANT WAVER and AFFIRMATION OF ACCURACY In consideration of my acceptance into this seminar, I agree to release, hold harmless, and

indemnify this organization, including but not limited to, participating members and instructors,

all clubs, organizations, and firms of any and all liability for injuries, disease, or ill health, or the

aggravation of such, all claims, demands, costs, or losses and expenses, including claims at law,

which I or my heirs and personal representatives may have arising out of, or caused in any way

by, or having connection with my participation in this contest and/or in the care or use of, custody

and control of any involved organization, including travel to and from the tournament. All photos

of me at these events may be used at the club’s discretion, and we wave compensation for them. I

additionally affirm that all tournament registration information is true and accurate. I assumes the

risk of any and all injury that may be suffered as a result of participation in the seminar and

understands that karate can be defined as an ultra-hazardous activity which can result in physical

injury even if practiced correctly. The participant represents that he/she is in good health and is

able to participate fully in the training.

Participant’s

Signature______________________________________________Date_____/_____/_____

Co-signed if under 21_____________________________________________________ (Legal

Guardian)

SESSIONS YOU ARE ATTENDING: _____1 _____2 _____3 _____4 _____ 5 _____

Total Cost___________

GENDER (Check One) _____MALE _____FEMALE

AGE __________

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Seiwa Kai Humor

Sometimes reality provides the joke.

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KOKUTAI: THE PERIOD of NATIONAL ESSENCE

国家の本質の期間

© Copyright property of Mark Cramer

KOKUTAI

Japan embarked upon a social and political program called Kokutai or National Essence “which

served from the Meiji Restoration [1867] to1945 as an inspiring and unifying ideology.”[i] This

program had two major objectives. The first of these objectives was Japan-ness (Nihonjinron)

which promoted cultural uniformity throughout all of the territories of Japan, including Okinawa.

The other major objective of Kokutai was austerity (Shugyo). This was designed to inculcate the

ideals of the old samurai class into all of the social classes in Japan. Loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice

were to be instilled into the entire population through this program. [ii] Kokutai, the program of

National Essence, would eventually have a profound effect on the development of karate by lifting

the veil of secrecy which once surrounded karate and by substantially altering the manner in which

karate was taught in both Okinawa and Japan.

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KARATE BECOMES PUBLIC

As a result of Kokutai, the period of karate’ secrecy ended in the early twentieth century as the

reign of the Meiji Emperor was drawing to a close. The transition from karate being taught in a

secretive and selective environment to karate being taught openly to the public is confirmed by

Richard Kim: “In Okinawa around 1903, karate was incorporated into the public school physical

education system. Prior to this period, karate training was restricted to the nobility and men of

means.”[iii]

The reason that karate was introduced into the public education system had militaristic undertones.

A Japanese doctor was examining Okinawan candidates for the Japanese military service, and he

noticed that the mental and physical condition of certain young men was exceptional. When it was

discovered that all of these men trained in karate, the Japanese government decided to end the ban

which had forced karate to be taught secretly and to move karate into the public educational

system. In this manner, the physical condition of all of the Okinawan candidates for the Japanese

military would be improved.[iv]

Karate training became public in Okinawa and had militaristic undertones.

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Karate, which was once the secretive martial art of Okinawa’s nobility, was now a public art which

was practiced by all of the young men of all of the social classes in Okinawa. However, we must

bear in mind that this change was not motivated by a desire to have karate introduced to the general

public. The real motivation came from the government’s desire to improve both the mental and

physical condition of the men who were entering the armed services of the Empire of Japan.

One can reasonably infer that having karate taught in the government run public schools, and

having it taught to all levels of Okinawan society grew out of Japan’s program of Kokutai or

National Essence. The Kokutai goal of Shugyo was designed to instill the ideals of Japan’s samurai

class to all of the social classes in Japan. Consequently, it is quite consistent with Shugyo to have

the ideals of the Okinawan nobility and their martial art instilled into all of the social classes on

the island of Okinawa. The purpose was to have all young Japanese men, including those in

Okinawa, instilled with the martial spirit, feelings of loyalty, and a sense of sacrifice for Empire.[v]

Teaching karate in the public school curriculum would have ensured that all of the men from

Okinawa who entered the Japanese military would be trained in a martial art and instilled with

these traits.

KARATE IS SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERED

Furthermore, Japan’s program of Kokutai (National Essence) was promoting the ideal of

Nihonjinron or “reshaping all of Japan, including Okinawa, into one unified people.”[vi]

Consequently, when Okinawan karate teachers traveled to the main islands of Japan in the 1920s

and introduced their martial art to the Japanese public, they discovered that “by Japanese standards

karate was uncultivated and without suitable organization or ‘oneness.’ In short, it was not

Japanese.”[vii] To make matters even more complicated, Okinawan karate was of Chinese origin

“and anti-Chinese sentiment was rampant.”[viii] As a result, the Japanese quickly set upon

transforming Okinawan karate into a suitable Japanese martial art.

Patrick McCarthy enumerates some of the changes that were required in order to transform

Okinawan karate into a truly Japanese martial art: “For karate-jitsu to be accepted in mainland

Japan, the Butokukai [Japan’s supervising body for the martial arts] called for the development

and implementation of a unified teaching curriculum, a consistent standard for evaluating the

various grades of proficiency, the implementation of Kano Jigoro’s [the founder of judo] dan-kyu

system [of black belts and lesser belts], and the development of a safe competitive format through

which participants could test their skills and spirits...[The] idea was to establish a universal set of

standards, as judo and kendo had done”[ix] This litany of alterations was required in order to

transform Okinawan karate, which was still called Chinese-hand, into a martial art that was

consistent with the other Japanese martial arts.

Moreover, if the karate of Okinawa was to gain acceptance in Japan, it needed to be in accord with

the indigenous Japanese martial traditions of judo and kendo in one other area. This meant that

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specific style names needed to be adopted.[x] Consequently, the general references to the city

where the martial art was practice were abandoned, and specific style names were registered with

the Dai Nippon Butokukai in the early 1930s.[xi] Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu,

and Shotokan were style names which eventually would be spread throughout Japan and its empire.

For the most part, the changes which had been called for by Kokutai and the Dai Nippon Butokukai

materialized. Karate lost its Chinese visage and became Japanese in its appearance and in its

substance. Karate training was standardized and systematized. The karate gi and belt grades were

introduced, and names for styles were selected. This once secretive and enigmatic Okinawan

martial art was transformed into a modern Japanese martial art which could be practiced by people

of all social classes.

[i] Brownlee, John S: The Four Stages of the Japanese Kokutai [National Essence], page 1

[ii] McCarthy, Patrick: Bubishi: page 52

[iii] Kim, Richard: The Weaponless Warriors: page 64

[iv] Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, pages 23-24

[v] McCarthy, Patrick: Bubishi: page 52

[vi] McKenna, Mario, Dragon Times: Vol. 17 page 9

[vii] McCarthy, Patrick: Bubishi: page 54

[viii] McCarthy, Patrick: Bubishi: page 55

[ix] McCarthy, Patrick Bubishi: The Bible of Karate: page 55

[x] Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 68

[xi] Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, page 36

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Karate at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games

Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 10th, 2015.

Karate Competition: July 23-25 at the Mississauga Sports Centre

Editor’s Note: Mr. Craig Vokey of Goshukan Seiwa Kai Canada is the Sport Organizing

Chairperson for Karate at the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Whereas there are 45 nation members of the Pan American

Karate Federation, only 14 nations have qualified kumite

athletes for this Pan American Games. (Karate competition

at the games will be in kumite only.)

A total of eighty athletes, forty men and forty women, have

qualified for Pan American Karate Championships. There

are five kilo divisions for each gender, and each division has

eight competitors. Qualification was accomplished through

one of the four qualifying tournaments – the 2014 South

American Games, the USA / Mexico Regional Qualifier, the

2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, and the 2015

Pan American Games Qualifier. Additionally, as the host nation Canada automatically qualifies

one athlete in each kilo division. The qualifying results by nation, kilo division, and gender are

shown in the table below.

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Name of Country

Kilo Divisions Men Kilo Divisions Women

Total 60kg 67kg 75 kg 84kg 84+kg 50kg 55kg 61kg 68kg 68+kg

Argentina X X X X X 5

Brazil X X X X X X X 7

Canada X X X X X X X X X X 10

Chile X X X X X X X X 8

Columbia X X X X 4

Cuba X X X 3

Dominican Rep. X X X X X X X X X 9

Ecuador X X X X X X 6

El Salvador X 1

Mexico X X X X X X 6

Peru X X X 3

United States X X X X X X X 7

Uruguay X 1

Venezuela X X X X X X X X X X 10

Total: 14 Countries 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 80

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Pan American Seiwa Kai in Competition

Toledo School for the Arts Great Lakes Seiwa Kai Tournament

On May 9th, the Toledo

School for the Arts hosted its

first annual Great Lakes

Seiwa Kai Karate

Tournament in its Attic

Theatre. Seventy-six students

from Toledo School for the

Arts (Ohio) and Bedford

Public Schools (Michigan)

participated in the event.

Competition was limited to

students from second through

twelfth grade, and all of the

competitors were from the

dojos of Great Lakes Seiwa

Kai. Additionally, the

majority of the judges,

scorekeepers, and timekeepers for both kata and were high school students from TSA and Bedford.

Toledo School for the

Arts is a public charter

school (grades 6

through 12) located in

downtown Toledo,

Ohio, and it has an

enrollment of just

over 500 students.

TSA's curriculum

integrates the visual

and performing arts

with core academic

subjects. Karatedo is

one of the arts which is taught at Toledo School for the Arts, and students are able to receive a

major in the martial arts. TSA students have been accepted to many of the nation's best colleges

and universities, and the school has enjoyed a 100% graduation rate for the last four years.

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TSA students are able to receive

an Arts Diploma by taking a

minimum of five classes in a

particular art during their four

years of high school. Being the

Tournament Director was the

Senior Project assigned to Carrie

Pierce and will result in her

receiving an Arts Diploma for the

Martial Arts from Toledo School

for the Arts.

Below: Carrie Pierce (with Mark

Cramer) earned her Shodan from the

Seiwa Kai in 2014, and will become the

first Toledo School for the Arts student

to receive an Arts Diploma for the

Martial Arts in 2015.

Carrie Pierce tells us about her experience: “May 9, 2015 was

the Toledo School for the Arts first annual friendship

tournament. For my Senior Project, which is required for my

Arts Diploma, I was given the assignment of being the

Tournament Director for this event. I did not realize how hard

being the Tournament Director would be. The easiest part was

all the paper work that had to be filled out and sent out.

Without the help of Sensei Cramer this competition would

have been impossible.”

“I have been to several tournaments but I didn't realize how

much work was put into a tournament. The day of the

tournament a number of students came early to help set up

and hang up signs. I spent most of my time in the registration

room. Competitors started showing up, and there were over

70 competitors from both Toledo School for the Arts and

Bedford Great Lakes Seiwa Kai. This is when I began to put

the competitors into divisions.”

“Putting the younger kids into divisions was difficult; they would only pay attention for a second.

Other than that, getting people into their divisions was not hard. Watching competitors warm up

made me wish for it to be over before something went wrong.”

“I was very proud of all the students who I have in class. At the tournament the students put forth

all they had and did a fantastic job. There is something about tournaments that brings out the best

in people.”

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U.S. Open

Submitted by: Marie Tanabalan

After an incredible and exciting day at the Junior

International Championships in Las Vegas, young

Jake Moore from Great Britain won a silver medal

in kata and bronze medal in kumite in the advance

division. Well done and congratulations on your

success. All the best for the US Open which takes

place 4-5th April. Seiwakai England Team TKF

GB team - with Leo Lipinski and 5 others.

Ohio Qualifier

Mark Cramer (right) refereeing with Roger Jarrett

and Josey Guerrero at the Ohio Qualifier to the

USANKF Championships and Team Trials.

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Sudburry, Canada Kids Strike Again Contributed by Benoit’s Martial Arts

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Goshukan Seiwa Kai South Africa Submitted by Gary Mahnke

Team Goshukan who brought home the bling from 2015 Nationals! 17 KSA all style national

medals from 11 Gladiators! Well done guys and girls, your hard work is paying off!!

Goshukan South Africa’s Sensei Troy Futter was

recently crowned the South African National

Heavyweight All Style Champion at the KSA

National Champs in March 2015, by winning Gold

in a tough division filled with worthy opponents!

After a run of serious injuries that saw him confined

to crutches with a snapped ACL ligament and torn

meniscus in his knee which he sustained, in an

exceptional fight, at the Goju Ryu World

Championships in 2013. After a long and hard road

back to form, he then managed to rip the big toe on

his right foot almost clean off!! This open fracture

set him to the start of his painful recovery road!

These setback did not break his fighting spirit! With

more courage, determination and fight than I've ever

seen in any man, and with many people having

written him off, Troy not only made it back faster

and stronger than ever. Well done Troy. You have

the heart of a true champion and your reward of the

heavyweight title is well deserved! We are all very

proud of you.

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Goshukan Seiwa Kai South Africa Submitted by Gary Mahnky

Goshukan's Vicky Munsamy is a true legend! This

amazing mother of 2, is a titan in the ring and has

cemented herself, once again, at the very top of the

rankings by being crowned South African National All

Style Karate Champion, when she took Gold for kumite at

KSA Nationals in March 2015! This title is added to her

already impressive CV that has seen her crowned World

Champion not once, but twice, by winning Gold in the

2010 and 2013 Goju Ryu World Championships. She also

took home a bronze medal for kata at the 2010 world

Champs.

Vicky is such a true champion, her humble attitude and

infectious laugh, makes her one the most loved athletes in

karate South Africa. Keep up the hard work Vicky, we are

all so very proud of you

SRK Spring Open Championships in Grays, Essex April 25

Submitted by Richard Hang Hong

Several Seiwakai clubs were in attendance as part of the 25 clubs and 230 competitors including

Oxford Karate Academy, The karate Centre, Kaizen Ryu Karate, and Windrush Karate Well done

to everyone who participated and huge thanks to all the officials and coaches for your help

throughout the day.

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Seiwa Kai around the Globe

The State of Seiwakai England

By Leo Lipinski

Over the past 10 years and more I was often asked what legacy

is being created here in Britain/England. I have given this

question much thought in the past few years especially in the

light of the fact that day by day I am ageing and feeling the of

effects of this, I will give this question a somewhat long-

winded answer.

I have always thought of myself as a student, learning daily

from everything I do. This includes my feelings about karate. I

go to Japan every year and have been for nearly 50 years. Not

for a week or just to attend a seminar but for months on end,

sometimes for as long as 6 months. I go there to learn. I go there

to try to understand what they teach. Often I hear people say

when they are told something “I know, I know” Common

words. I will say hand on heart I have never used these words in

relation to karate. In the times I had the chance to train with teachers such as Tasaki Sensei and

Shiomi sensei I never ever said to such teachers “I know” – if I know why would I be there in the

first place. So, I always responded yes Sensei and tried to absorb their teaching. I still do the same

with Fujiwara shihan and others. I go to Japan to learn as much as they are willing to teach me.

Moving on from this—when I say I go as a student—this is the truth. It is also the truth that I learn

from all of you even when I am teaching. That is how I think of teaching—sharing information

with other likeminded students who are all travelling the same road. It just happens some of us

started on the road earlier than others.

To get back to the question of a legacy here in England, I will start this by saying I am not English.

I am an immigrant with an immigrant's mentality. I am not “hindered” by the constraints of being

British. Transferring this to karate I have had a very open policy about taking in people from

outside of Seiwakai. Tasaki sensei in truth was not completely in favor of this but he let me get on

with it as does Fujiwara Shihan. Today our organization is a mixture of karate cultures. Some are

from “mixed” karate styles, some from other forms of Gojuryu which are actually quite different

from Tasaki Sensei's Gojuryu. What I hope they learn are the values that come with being part of

the/ Seiwakai family. In addition to good karate it is also about manners and respect. Certainly this

is the way of Seiwakai in Japan.

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We have been lucky that we have grown and grown even though at the same time losing some

people. A few have left when they were not thought good enough to grade by Fujiwara shihan and

me.

As a result of this growth we now have a pool of leaders of various ages, ranging from 25 up to

the late 50's. I refer to people with the rank of 1st Dan right up to two with 7th Dan. This provides

Seiwakai England with quality, integrity and most of all, continuity. All of these people and their

students are the legacy. Many in this band of instructors have management and leadership qualities.

They are the Seiwakai of the future. We have many in various age groups, 25-40, 40-50 and 50-

60.Many are growing in technical knowledge and skill by training very regularly on seminars.

Once we get past any politics, and we do not need this as many have seen who attend my regular

weekend seminars, we have a truly amazing group of people. They are the legacy for the future

and for continuity -- growing group of teachers without personal agendas that get in the way of

growing our karate and improving their standards. We do not run Seiwakai by meetings and typical

karate organizational processes. It is all by agreement and consensus hopefully of people who are

there because they are passionate about karate and not about themselves. I am an older student

doing the same as you do. We do not require bosses.